Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Thoughts on how we treat others

I am taking a "Multicultural Education" graduate class this summer session, and it's got me thinking! In our online "discussions" we have talked a lot about how our classrooms need to reflect the world, and we need to be teach more tolerance so that the stereotypes, ignorance, and hatred will have a chance to come to an end. It has made me be more conscious of how I treat people of different cultures that I come in contact with. I try not to be so quick to get frustrated when I can't understand the checker at the grocery store or the customer service rep on the other end of the phone. I try to use my "active listening" and repeat what I think they say, enlisting my patience and requiring me to be attentive to the person.

This class has also made me more attentive to issues of other cultures in the media. Two sites I would like to share are:
1. The Houston Chronicle columnist Leonard Pitts, Jr. has ran several pieces on the good things going on in the African-American culture: "What_Works"
2. The Heineken Ad - I am not a beer drinker, but I love the idea behind this ad! If everyone could see that we are all just people who want to enjoy life! Share_the_Good

I hope this leaves you inspired to make just a little change!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Dog Days of Summer

Most people would say that I have 2 more months of summer vacation, but if you are in the field of education for very long you know that is not true! So, in essence, half of my summer is over just like that! It's amazing how helping with vacation bible school, taking statistics, and trying to keep 2 school aged kids busy makes the days fly by! On top of all that we've had swim lessons, trips to the pool, family get togethers, and movie outings.
Movies have to be my favorite summer passtime! My husband and I saw the "Indiana Jones..." movie and were a bit disappointed in it. It was a fun movie, but lacked some plot elements. We took the kids to see "Kung Fo Panda" and "WALL-E". Those were fun movies to see! Enough tenderness, action, humor, and excitement to keep us all attentive (and cheering at the end). What made all of these movies fun to see is that they were digital showings. So, no fuzzy blips across the screen as you watch the movie! It is fabulous, and probably the only way I'll get my husband to take me to a movie from now on! And now that we've exhausted the new movie choices, we will partake in the "Summer Movie Club"s at our local theatres. Both Cinemark and AMC_Theatres have fun selections. At this point in the summer anything that is inexpensive and gets us out of the house is great fun!
The next best thing about summer is that I get to read book for fun! I have already finished 4 novels and have started 2 others! This is amazing as I have had to read statistics everyday for the past 2 weeks too. Check out the new addtions to my bookshelf! I reccommend them all!